Dry air in winter can put a lot of strain on our nasal mucosa. Why you should take care of a dry nose, which remedies really help and when it makes sense to see a doctor.
We breathe in and out around 20,000 times a day. So it’s hardly surprising that our nose tends to dry out when the air is very dry in winter. It can then happen that the mucus-producing cells no longer keep up with production and the nose dries out. Some people experience a slight burning sensation or a crust may form. Some even experience nosebleeds.
Low humidity in heated rooms or outside in the cold is by far the most common cause of dry nasal mucous membranes. However, there are also other reasons. For example, drugs that constrict the blood vessels inhibit the cells from producing mucus. This is because the cells are supplied with less blood and therefore water secretion decreases.
“Allergies trigger an overproduction of secretions, but these tend to have an inflammatory effect. This can lead to symptoms similar to those of a dry nose.”
“Dry mucous membranes are also common after nasal surgery, due to radiotherapy or autoimmune diseases,” says Michael Soyka, Head Physician at the Department of Ear, Nose, Throat and Facial Surgery at the University Hospital Zurich. “Another not-so-rare cause is cocaine. It dries out the nasal mucosa and is very damaging to the nose.”
Allergies and colds – sprays can dry out the nose
It is often said that allergies cause dry nasal mucous membranes. But the opposite is actually the case. “Allergies trigger an overproduction of secretions, but these tend to have an inflammatory effect. This can lead to symptoms similar to those of a dry nose,” explains Soyka. The same applies to a runny nose with a cold.
If you use decongestant nasal sprays for a blocked nose and a cold, you should stop using them after a week at the latest. They constrict the blood vessels so that the swelling of the nasal mucous membranes subsides. “However, if used for too long and too frequently, the mucous membrane becomes accustomed to the active ingredients,” explains Soyka. The duration of action is becoming shorter and those affected are using such sprays more and more frequently. This impairs blood circulation and the nasal mucous membranes can become very dry and thin.
Only those who use nasal sprays with anti-inflammatory agents such as cortisone due to an allergy or chronic sinusitis, for example, should not simply stop using them. “The anti-inflammatory effect has priority here – even if you sometimes have to put up with a dry nose,” emphasizes Soyka.
